« January 2005 | Main | March 2005 »
February 28, 2005
peri-peri
Syracuse was awesome. Saw a bunch of people and had a great time, and we beat Providence. SU basketball is looking good.
I also got to practice my driving in the snow, just in time to get back here and do it again with this storm that's swooping through. It was refreshing to drive in an area where people are competent at bad-weather driving. In DC, if somebody spits in a gutter, three cars swerve and crash into the ditch.
Kara and I are doing great and we have some things figured out, which makes me feel like I have some direction as to what has to be done and where things are going. So that's good.
I found Nando's peri-peri hot sauce at the Hot Shoppe in Syracuse! Nando's is a South African chicken joint that I used to love in London, and they had some of the best hot sauce I can think of. They had a bunch of their sauces there, and I picked up a small bottle...plus some Dinosaur BBQ sauce, of course.
Also, got my bonus and a raise. With some careful planning, I think my finances are going to be just fine.
Posted by Mark at 10:42 AM | Comments (0)
February 21, 2005
a series of one-line thoughts
Dad makes the best beef jerky.
Long-distance relationships are hard.
My relationship is normal.
Kara is still the best.
Matt has some interesting ideas for drinking costumes.
I did a power hour!
Wal-Mart is awesome for stocking up on supplies.
This is especially true when Mom is paying.
Bucknell puts Susquehanna in its place.
That digital scale cannot possibly be correct.
In winter, the woods in Pennsylvania are mostly brown and gray.
In summer, they are mostly green and gray.
That bird I saw was a black-capped chickadee.
I have no idea where turtles go in the winter.
Reading is fun.
So are video games.
I need to wash my car.
I need to move to Boston.
Posted by Mark at 09:08 PM | Comments (0)
February 16, 2005
valentine's day
I'm writing about Valentine's Day specifically because Ed asked me what Kara and I got each other. Hi Ed!
We decided last month not to do anything ridiculous, but instead to give some money to the E&Y tsunami victims' fund. So that's what we did. She sent me a couple of cards, and I sent her some flowers. It was nice having somebody on Valentine's Day, but we are still in different states, so it was a little weird at the same time.
We're definitely in the "real" part of our relationship, where things are not always hearts and puppy dogs every time we think about each other. That makes it interesting because I have absolutely no idea what relationships at this stage are supposed to be like. She's not terribly experienced at this either. It's like, "Ok, does the fact that my heart doesn't flutter every single time I see her picture mean that our relationship is a sham? Or is that just normal?" I suspect it is normal, but, I'm not very good at this sort of thing. It doesn't help matters much that we're both a little stressed out in general terms right now, and that we're in different area codes. I might have to put some serious thought into figuring that out...I thought I did, but maybe I don't. I know that's cryptic. I can't spell everything out.
But I think that I'm coming out the other side of things...I felt pretty good when I woke up this morning. I think I'm gonna go home this weekend and hopefully see some people and spend a little time with the family.
Posted by Mark at 12:54 PM | Comments (1)
February 15, 2005
on athletic strategems
I watched a little bit of the Syracuse game last night, and I came to the conclusion that I just don't quite "get" basketball.
Yeah, I understand how the game is played--I did once play it myself, and very badly. I get as excited as anybody for the Orange, and I'm proud of our NCAA championship. But basketball just doesn't elicit the same excitement that football and baseball do.
I think that part of it is that basketball is a deceptively subtle game...it's almost like fencing. There is a whole lot of stuff going on there that you don't catch if you aren't really watching for it. Things that do determine the likelyhood of the ball to go into the basket, but not in such an obvious way as football.
I mean, football, ok...the more I watch, the more I can start to see how certain running plays will open up lanes for the running back to take the ball and go with it, or how sometimes the QB will just literally be trapped back in the pocket with nobody open to throw the ball too. The other thing with football is that, after almost every play, you're going to see one or two replays from different angles, analyzing what the offense was attempting to do, how the defense responded, how the play either worked or didn't work.
But even if you're not paying attention to detail, you can generally see pretty clearly exactly what happened: the reciever was covered too tightly to get open. The offensive line didn't hold and somebody got to the QB and he didn't see him coming.
And a lot of the time, a play doesn't work because of a strategic reason, because the defense figured out what was happening, and was able to react. It's not that the QB misses a throw or a lineman misses a tackle or whatever. Not to say it doesn't happen, but it seems like it happens less often.
In other words, football is a big team sport. And it's easy to understand why a play works or doesn't.
I don't know why baseball appeals to me, because it's practically an individual sport: pitcher faces off against batter. The strategy is more a matter of what pitches to throw in what order, whether to take the certainty of a walk over the chance of a run an a couple RBIs.
Two things that baseball and football definitely share: when scoring plays happen, they're a big thing, and they are both games that happen at a measured pace. Pitch, swing, miss, relax for 30 seconds. Hike, throw, tackle, reset the play clock, call the next play.
I know that there is strategy going on in basketball, I just can't quite get my finger on it. There's so much going on...different defenses, different people with different skill levels from not just different parts of the court, but different distances, different comfort levels of comfort, different vertical leaps and shooting styles and what-have-you. The strategy is a lot less clear-cut. And the action is constant, so you don't really get a second to look at replays and see what was really happening when the players arranged themselves on the court, when somebody passes to somebody who seems to be in an almost arbitrary position, but decides to shoot as opposed to the last guy who had the ball.
So that's why I don't watch basketball as much as I watch some other sports. I don't like to belittle the sport, it's just that I can't pick up on the plays. It's like watching football and wondering why the QB doesn't just throw a Hail Mary for every pass, or why every baseball player doesn't just swing for the fence. I don't understand why everybody doesn't just shoot 3s.
But, as March Madness gets closer, you can bet I'll be watching Syracuse now and then. And we are going up to the Dome to see a game in a couple weekends, so I need to brush up on our stats for this year.
In other news, the office is pretty quiet today, but I'm getting some code written, so that's good. I was gonna ride the bike to work today, but it was still a little damp outside.
I've started playing Escape Velocity: Nova, which is actually lacking a few features that I seem to remember from the Mac version of EV Override I played a few years ago. Still, it's keeping my attention.
Posted by Mark at 02:56 PM | Comments (0)
February 13, 2005
good metal and rap
I have discovered the wonderfulness of Internet Radio, via Winamp. Two particularly good radio stations, one playing hardcore/metal and one playing hip-hop and rap. Caveat: neither of these genres is particularly intended for those of sensitive ears, and I like these stations specifically because they do not censor their content. If I'm not using the airwaves--thus not having to contend with those Nazis in the FCC--I sure don't want to hear censored versions of Divine or Gin and Juice.
For all your metal needs: Chronix Radio
For all your hip-hop needs: Bandit Radio
Both far better than the sorry excuse for radio perpetrated upon our public airwaves these days. I have a feeling that the day is coming when we're just going to have to break down and get XM or Sirius. Ironic that the people who decided radio should make more money are the ones who are killing it. But that same short-sighted "profit now, for tomorrow we die" is the same thing that's killing many other corporations, the ecosystem, the music industry, etc. /sigh
Posted by Mark at 07:09 PM | Comments (0)
assorted colors and flavors
I haven't been blogging much lately because I haven't honestly had a whole lot to blog about. I'm in a bit of a funk. Maybe it's the changing seasons, my impending birthday, who knows. My personality has always been a bit of an emotional yo-yo, and I don't think I've really come any closer to understanding why that is over the years. I guess the best I've been able to do is just come to terms with the fact that sometimes I'm not at my best, and who knows why. Hopefully friends and family understand.
Work has been really stressful lately, not because I'm working on a high-profile project, but rather because of how we're trying to rework how we do projects. There are a lot of competing interests in play and I'm not feeling like I have a whole lot of control over the situation.
What else. I went for a walk today. And I officially brought the motorcycle out of the backyard and on the street. I rode a little last weekend and I went out for a ride yesterday and another ride today. The oil is running a little low, but not critically so, and I checked the tire pressure yesterday. She's running very well.
REI called me today and said that they want me to sign a paper authorizing them to do a background check, which is a step in the right direction. I asked the guy if that meant that they were going to offer me a job, but he said not necessarily. I am hoping that he's just covering his butt in case it turns out that I'm a serial killer who doesn't pay his credit card bills on time.
I was sitting on the porch yesterday smoking my pipe, and I had a chance to chat with the neighbors. It really wasn't quite warm enough to be sitting outside, but I think that around this time of year, I try to move the season along with some wishful thinking. Hence, riding the motorcycle, even though it was probably really about 10 degrees too cold to be comfortable on it.
Mom is really liking her job at Bucknell, a trend which I sincerely hope continues. Bucknell is really a step up for her. And it's a big deal for her to switch jobs, her generation not being accustomed to such things.
I walked through the zoo today, intending to photograph the baby cheetahs, but there was a line. I simply can't justify waiting in line to see something at the zoo when I can pretty much just walk over there any day of the week. So I'll work from home one day this week and head over there at lunchtime.
Lunch today, I felt like eating some comfort food. I was jonesing for something pizza related, but nothing was on sale, so I decided to make pigs in a blanket. That is hot dogs wrapped in croissant dough. Also--get this--I was looking for tater tots, but couldn't find any, and I happened to see that they were selling frozen hush puppies. I used to LOVE those things when we'd go to the Arthur Treacher's which is now a cell phone store, or the one up at Grandmam's in the Frackville mall that had this really neat fake nautical decor and kind of a dark atmosphere that made it feel like you were actually eating in some seaside wharf somewhere. Maybe that's why I'm such a fan of dark, smoky pubs to this day. We've already established that [Aunt] Helen's Cafe is why I associate the smell of Yuengling with childhood joy...and tinker toys.
Anyway, yeah, so, pigs in a blanket, which were awesome, and hush puppies. Kara would probably say "honey, your lunch was gross." She doesn't know the sheer culinary pleasure she is missing out on!
Kara is stressed right now too, with work and CPA stuff and everything else. Things are fine between the two of us, although it's certainly a lot more fun to deal with other human beings when you yourself are not in a funky mood. You get the two of us in cranky moods, there are days when there's just not a lot to discuss. Things like that are when the long-distance thing really starts to be a pain. Non-verbal communication, or just peaceful co-existence, is fine when you don't have to interact via phone. When nobody feels like talking, that makes phone calls an exercise in futility.
But, Syracuse weekend is coming up, and I'm really excited about that. However, I really wish work would get its act together and determine the status of our raises. I suppose that the upside of the delay is that the compensatory paycheck should be significantly bigger.
Posted by Mark at 06:51 PM | Comments (0)
February 05, 2005
a tiger's reflection
This tiger was just pacing back and forth along the edge of the water, never stopping for long. I happened to snap this shot when it was turning around. I think it looks contemplative somehow...much more peaceful than the craziness of the crowd around the big cats exhibit.
Posted by Mark at 06:19 PM | Comments (0)
naptime
This photo makes me think of a tropical beach somewhere. I can't wait to take a vacation. I am going to look just like this sea lion.
Posted by Mark at 06:18 PM | Comments (0)
dependable turtles
I have seen the lemurs in the lemur exhibit maybe once since I moved here. I guess they stay inside when it's cold or something. The turtles, however, never fail to disappoint.
Posted by Mark at 06:16 PM | Comments (0)
lonely elephant
This baby elephant came outside the back of the elephant house and wandered shyly along the stone wall.
Posted by Mark at 06:15 PM | Comments (0)
a day at the zoo
I was busy today. When I woke up, I decided to get some excercise and go to the zoo, where they have a new pair of cheetah cubs on display. By the time I made my way up there, unfortunately, they were nowhere to be seen. But, I got some interesting photos of some other creatures at the zoo anyway, and I'll post those in a minute.
After lunch at California Tortilla, I walked home and decided to take the bike out for a spin. I ended up riding about 20 miles around Washington, out into Virginia and back again; it got a little cold towards the end, but was otherwise very relaxing and pleasant.
I don't really feel like doing much, but I have tons of laundry and my desk is cluttered with bills that need to be scheduled, so I'm gonna post these photos and then get started doing what needs to be done.
Posted by Mark at 06:12 PM | Comments (0)
February 03, 2005
jobs
I got my stuff done early today. Unfortunately, as is often the case with me actually not procrastinating, somebody else had a meeting and so now I don't really have anything that needs to be done until tomorrow.
And people ask me why I'm lazy.
I have my REI interview today, and I'm excited about it. I think it would be a great thing for me, to be working in an outdoor-centric environment like that. It's definitely a far cry from being a programmer. So I'll do my best to land a job.
I could also use the money, since it looks like Kara and I are going to try to take a 3-4 day cruise over Memorial Day weekend. It just seems to be the most cost-effective way to go. There are two we're really looking at, one of which is Carnival and the other, Royal Carribean. Both have pluses and minuses: the Carnival cruise is longer and leaves from New Orleans, and we'd have some time to bop around that city before we flew home at the end. The Royal Carribean one is on a nicer ship and is cheaper, however. Either way, should be a good vacation.
So, Social Security. It's the new Iraq. Here's the gist (as I understand it):
Time was, you were lucky to live past 70. If you spent your whole life working, wouldn't it be nice if you could quit at age 65 or so and relax a bit? So Social Security was set up, the idea being, everybody else pays into a system that guarantees to give you some scratch for a nice retirement when you get old enough...assuming you live long enough. It was a little lottery-esque, but, it definitely fits into that whole "respect your elders" mindset.
Three problems with this system. First, what happens if people start living longer? Rather than a small percentage of folks even making it to retirement and beyond, you have lots of people living into their 80s and 90s, causing the system to have to pay out longer and longer.
Second, what happens when there are also more actual people at retirement age? Such as what's beginning to happen with the Baby Boomers.
Third, and this is a little speculative, is that one supposes that people's expectations for retirement are more significant...a dollar doesn't go as far as it used to.
So, now you've got more people drawing money out of the system than putting into it...or at least, that's what is being said. I can't prove it one way or the other. But it seems plausible. Lots more people of retirement age, each living much longer than was anticipated when Social Security was dreamed up, and it's bankrupting the system. Slowly...but it's happening.
You have a number of solutions for this problem. One, increase the retirement age. The AARP will probably send me hate mail for simply daring to suggest it, although it's honestly the most reasonable proposal. If you're healthy enough to play golf, you're healthy enough to keep working. If you manage to make it to 80, then you're welcome to retire.
Another solution is to increase the amount of money people put into the system by increasing taxes. I don't see this happening either, for the obvious reason that nobody supports tax increases...and anyway, if W decided to give a tax cut right before waging a bunch of wars, I can't see him raising taxes for retirees.
The last solution is the one that he seems to want to go with, and that is, cutting benefits. Oh, he'll say that his reform plan isn't about cutting benefits until he's blue in the face, but that's really what it's about.
You pay in $1000. The government pays you back a percentage of that in benefits, eventually...I don't know the specific math, let's just say that you get paid %25 of that. $250 in benefits.
The new idea is, you're allowed to actually decide how to invest some of that money, with the hope that you'll be able to make money. Oh, you still pay in $1000. Say (this is all very hypothetical, numerically), half of it stays in your Social Security account, and half of it, you can decide what stocks to buy with it.
The difference is, the government is only on the hook to pay you %25 of the half that stays in your Social Security account. Your guaranteed benefits are now $125.
Theoretically, you make smart investments and manage to make up that other $125 on your own. Or you lose it because you're not a savvy investor, or Ken Lay needs a new yacht, or the stock market crashes. Tough luck. The government gave you its part of the deal.
That's my understanding of the way it works. Is it a terrible idea? Well, no...it's just a far less certain system. It has the potential to pay out more in benefits to some, and far less to others. It also makes sure that the system can keep paying out something to everybody, even if it's not as much as it used to.
I guess my generation never had the belief that Social Security was going to pay for our retirements anyway, so I'm not as concerned...I have my 401k, and if that doesn't get me through old age, I guess I'll have to go back to work. Which seems like a good enough solution to the problem on its own.
Posted by Mark at 03:09 PM | Comments (0)
February 02, 2005
vacation planning
Had a slow start to my day today. Probably coming down with something.
I finally got around to joining AAA. Kara and I are planning to do something for Memorial Day weekend this year to celebrate our one-year anniversary, and I've been researching Carribean destinations. I'm hoping we can find somewhere we can use her Marriott Rewards points. Aruba is one possibility. Cancun is another. I think I am going to contact a AAA travel person and see what they can come up with though. I don't mind planning travel by myself for places I've been, but it might just be worth the overhead to have an agent put this trip together.
I'm knee-deep in diagramming. We're changing the way we plan out projects. It's a good change; this new method requires a little more up-front thought, but is easier when it comes to actual coding.
Posted by Mark at 01:33 PM | Comments (1)